Details
A VERY RARE GERMAN OR BOHEMIAN TOY RIFLE
CIRCA 1700
With slightly swamped octagonal brass barrel rifled with four grooves, struck at the breech with the letter 'B', and with silver back- and fore-sights, plain tang, shaped fruitwood full stock (minor split) partially decorated with double line borders, pierced butt set with three turned horn roundels, engraved shaped brass side-plates, the right-hand one incorporating the pan and sprung pan-cover, brass-mounted iron trunnions, and brass fore-end cap: on box-shaped fruitwood stand (drawer missing) surmounted by two longitudinal strips each decorated with double line borders, a horn plaque between two brass knobs, and a turned horn roundel at each end, the front scrolled brackets slotted for the trunnions, similar decorative scrolls at front and rear and with long base with moulded edges, each side set with two small turned ebony roundels framing an eccentrically turned horn disc on the left-hand side, the one on the right a plain replacement, fruitwood elevating quoin with turned knob working between the gun-supporting strips, and brass spring-loaded eyelets retaining an iron- and brass-mounted ramrod and worm, each with turned horn knob
11in. (27.9cm.)
